Remembering Veterans on Memorial Day

The only sound you could hear at the Wilmington National Cemetery was the American flag blowing in the wind. "It leaves you speechless to see the rows upon rows of men and women lying here," said Charles Blackwell.
Marine Corps Veteran said, "it's humbling to walk around and look at these stones, and realize that a lot of people have spent a lot of time protecting us and protecting our freedom."
Some visit their loved ones all the time, but find its harder to visit on memorial day. "Its very hard to come down on days like this, during the week if I come it doesn't seem to bother me as much as it does on special holidays."
Gerry Hoffman visits her late husband Estel, and today she placed two Americans flags by his headstone. She says, "I came to visit my husbands grave, he died about four years ago and I wanted to come down and see if the flowers were here and pay my respects for him."
Don Gilbert and his wife came a day early to pay their respects. He is a Marine Corps veteran, and on this holiday, he remembers his fellow servicemen who sacrificed their lives for our country.
"Looking back and thanking the people who have died for this country and have done their part in participating in the services, its just an acknowledgment of our freedom and why we should appreciate it," said Gilbert.
Others like Paulina Evers came to the cemetary to learn a little piece of history. "I like to look at the different gravestones and see people's names and when they died and stuff." And for Paulina, she says Memorial Day is a time to simply be grateful for our freedom. "Freedom doesn't come from nothing, you have to fight for it. And we had a lot of Americans that did fight for it in all the other countries, and that's why we are here today."

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Memorial Day, like most holidays, has become commercialized. Our soldiers and veterans take a second, or I should say third row--it's also become the official kick off of the summer season--to consumer spending.
Yet I imagine we must know those in uniform protect all we so thoughtlessly enjoy.
Flying a flag at home and honoring the fallen where they lay in honor, in today's world, does make a statement!